After Roof Collapse, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Reviews Delhi Airport Operations

New Delhi: After the roof collapse at Terminal 1 of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu visited the Delhi airport to take stock of the current situation. He visited the Airport Operations Control Centre (AOCC) to review the operations and handling of passengers by the authorities. During the meeting, he directed the stakeholders to prioritize passenger safety.

Naidu held a meeting with Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), and representatives of multiple airlines airlines.

The Civil Aviation Minister said that he along with senior officials from the ministry reviewed the handling of passengers of all departing flights from Termimal 2 and Terminal 3 of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.

"Inspected the AOCC, IGI Airport, I convened with senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, DGCA, BCAS, DIAL, and airline operators to review current operations and passenger handling following the transition of flights from T1 to T2 and T3," said Civil Aviation Minister in a post on X.

Naidu informed that war rooms have been activated at the airport to facilitate better coordination between DIAL and the functioning airlines. "The DGCA confirmed the activation of war rooms, facilitating close coordination between DIAL and the airlines. I have advised all stakeholders to maintain rigorous standards to ensure seamless operations and prioritize passenger safety," the minister said.

Deadly Roof Collapse at T-1 

One person died and six were injured after a portion of the roof of the Delhi airport's Terminal-1 collapsed on cars, including taxis, amid heavy rain early Friday. Besides the roof sheet, the support beams collapsed, damaging the cars parked in the pick-up and drop area of the terminal.

“At around 5 am, the shed outside Terminal 1 of IGIA (domestic airport), spanning from Departure Gate No. 1 to Gate No. 2, collapsed, in which around 4 vehicles were damaged and around 6 persons were injured and one person died. All injured persons are stable,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), IGI Airport Usha Rangnani.  Following the incident, DGCA had directed the airline companies to either accommodate passengers on alternate flights or initiate full refund to customers.

The Delhi Police on Friday filed an FIR under sections related to death by negligence after the collapse of the roof of Delhi airport's Terminal-1 killed one person and injured six others. Officials said the Delhi Police has started the probe and will fix responsibility.

Victim's Family Mulling Legal Action

 The family of a 45-year-old cab driver who died after a portion of a canopy at the Delhi airport collapsed amid heavy rains is mulling to file a case against those responsible for his death. They cremated Ramesh Kumar's body at the Naharpur crematorium on Saturday. Ramesh is survived by his wife Asha, two sons, Ravinder and Ashish (22), and two daughters, Rashi (21) and Bhawana (18) -- all of whom stay at a rented house in Vijay Vihar area of Rohini close to Sector 7. Asha works as a domestic help in Rohini.